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Frankfurt: Audi Unveils the New RS4 Avant

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Audi has finally taken the camo off the RS4 Avant and unveiled it at the Frankfurt motor show today. The new hot wagon comes full of historic features and better-than-ever numbers.

Shown in Nogaro blue, Audi chose the color specifically to call back the original RSs, while the huge air inlets and puffed up wheel arches are designed to remind us of the Audi 90 quattro IMSA GTO.

Thanks to the Porsche-Audi developed 2.9-liter twin turbo V6 at its heart, though, the performance numbers are anything but nostalgic. Much like the RS5, the RS4 Avant makes 450 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque, which 125 more lb-ft than the previous generation, an amount that’s about as inconspicuous as an elephant in the fridge.

Audi RS 4 Avant

That torque is available from all over the rev range, too. Peak torque starts at 1,900 rpm and plateaus until 5,000 rpm, ensuring that you always have access to the kick-in-pants toque that you want. The power is, naturally, routed to all four wheels via an 8-speed Tiptronic transmission.

Despite all the extra power and torque, Audi has managed to make its engine even more efficient. With a combined fuel economy of 27 mpg and only 199 grams of CO2 emitted per kilometer, the new RS4 Avant is 17 percent more efficient than its predecessor.

Tipping the scales 3,946 lbs, the new wagon is also nearly 180 lbs lighter than the old one. In combination with the new transmission, engine, and suspension (lowered 1/3 of an inch over the standard A4 Avant with Sport Suspension) the RS4 Avant can hit 60 in just 4.1 seconds, by Audi’s conservative estimates.

Audi RS 4 Avant

Buyers can optionally equip the RS sport suspension plus with Dynamic Ride Control, ceramic brakes (inside standard 19-inch wheels), RS dynamic steering to set the steering up however suits them best.

Inside the seats are stitched in a honeycomb pattern, the steering wheel is flat bottomed, and RS badges adorn the shift gate and door sills. The gauge cluster, meanwhile, is specifically set up for RS duty, with a G meter, tire pressure gauge, and torque numbers all contained within the virtual cockpit.

The RS4 Avant hits German dealers in the fall and other European markets in early 2018 starting 79,800 Euros. Audi has expressed that the car will be available in China, too, though no information has been shared about its potential arrival in America.

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